Causes and Indicators of Stress - Page 1 of 10

Causes and Indicators of Stress

What is Stress and How Does it Impact Us?

A familiar story is told of a woman who, when walking through her garden one morning, noticed a butterfly in the process of emerging from its cocoon. The small creature struggled and pushed trying to accomplish its task. Feeling compassion, the woman reached into her pocket, pulled out a scissors, and snipped the cocoon so the butterfly could easily emerge. To her dismay, the butterfly collapsed and its brief life came to an abrupt end. In order to strengthen its wings and fly, the butterfly needed the exercise of pushing out of the cocoon.

The word stress has several different meanings. The concept of stress originated as a principle of physics, i.e., an applied force or system of forces that subjects a body to strain or pressure. In this sense, stress is a neutral term; it is neither positive or negative, beneficial or harmful.

This principle is illustrated over and over throughout the natural world. For example, on the lee side of an island (the calm, quiet side), coral growth tends to be rather small and the colors of the coral are muted. But on the windward side of the island, which is pounded by wind and strong waves, the coral usually grows much more abundantly and emerges in rich and vibrant colors. Combating the stress of the ocean helps to strengthen the coral, which is a living, growing creature. Conversely, the stress of environmental pollutants and excessive climate changes can also damage the coral, stunting its growth, perhaps even destroying it.

So, too, the stresses in our lives can strengthen and energize us, helping us realize our full potential - or they can batter and beat us. Stress is a natural and necessary part of the growth process for all living beings. In human beings, too little stress can actually be a serious problem. At minimum, it leads to boredom, apathy, and limited growth and development. We also see rather extreme cases of this problem with neglected children who may suffer lifelong effects of inadequate stimulation, exercise, and mental challenges early in life.

For the most part, though, we encounter more stress in today's world than is optimal. Stress-related diseases are currently the primary cause of illness in our society. In a manner antithetical to the example of the butterfly, too much stress can weaken us, stunt our growth, or perhaps even destroy us. It can overload our entire being, harming us physical, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually.